Cosby Accuser Files Suit

The woman who recently accused Bill Cosby of sexual misconduct has filed a civil suit against the entertainer citing assault, battery, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, among other charges.

Andrea Constand, the former director of operations for the women’s basketball program at Philadelphia’s Temple University, claims Cosby sexually assaulted her in January 2004 after giving her pills that incapacitated her. Constand reported the incident to police in Durham, Ontario, in January.

Prosecutors said they did not find sufficient evidence to support charges against the comedian.

“That prosecutor was out of line,” Constand attorney Delores Troiani said. “It is not a comment on her credibility, or the evidence in this case.”

The civil suit was filed in U.S. District Court March 8th, asking for sums in excess of $150,000 plus attorney fees and punitive damages.

Troiani and fellow attorney Bebe Kivitz told the Philadelphia Daily News that filing the suit was the first step of closure for their client and that there is a lot more evidence than before.

Cosby recently told the National Enquirer he was being exploited and a Cosby rep told reporters that the accuser’s family had approached the entertainer for financial restitution before going to the police.

In contrast, the lawsuit claims Cosby’s camp made at least four phone calls to the accuser’s family offering apologies and financial compensation, which the family refused. According to the plaintiff’s attorneys, Constand offered to take a lie detector test but investigators said it wasn’t necessary.

According to the suit, Cosby – a Temple alum – “fostered” a friendship with Constand in 2002. During the night in question, Cosby and Constand allegedly talked about her career choices at his place of residence in Philadelphia. Constand claims she told the comedian the conversation made her feel “stressed,” so Cosby offered three “herbal” pills to relax her.

Instead, Constand’s “knees began to shake, her limbs felt immobile, she felt dizzy and weak, and she began to feel only barely conscious,” according to the lawsuit. Cosby is accused of leading her to a couch, touching her breasts and vaginal area, rubbing his penis on her hand and sexually assaulting her.

Cosby has denied the allegations.